GC-MS-based metabolic signatures reveal comparative steroidogenic pathways between fetal and adult mouse testes.

Testicular steroid signatures showed that both steroidogenic Δ4 and Δ5 pathways in the production of testosterone were activated more during prenatal development. Both 7α- and 11β-hydroxylations were predominant, while hydroxylations at C-6, C-15, and C-16 of testosterone and androstenedione were decreased in the fetus. The present GC-MS-based steroid profiling may facilitate understanding of the development of testicular steroidogenesis.